GFF welcomes class of 2027 Board of Trustees and officers

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GFF welcomes class of 2027 Board of Trustees and officers

11 Feb 2025

Joanie Spencer

Since 2008, Joanie Spencer has covered the retail and wholesale sides of the baking industry.
Serving associations such as the American Society of Baking (ASB) and BEMA, Joanie is also in demand as an industry presenter on bakery operations and trends. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Rockhurst University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

When she’s not running or playing soccer, Joanie spends her time with her husband and 11-year-old son.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Grain Foods Foundation, the organization committed to science-based, grains-positive programming, announced its 2027 class of trustees. The new trustees, co-chairs and treasurer of the board were announced following the group’s all-investor and Board of Trustees meetings, held Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, respectively. The class of Trustees was voted in during the all-investor meeting.

Fort Wayne, IN-based Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is the newest Board of Trustees member, represented by J. Bohn Popp. Additionally, Grain Craft, Richardson International and Sosland Publishing have been re-elected to the board.

These board members will bring valuable perspectives from across the grain foods industry to advance GFF’s strategic goals.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new member of GFF’s Board of Trustees,” said Erin Ball, executive director of GFF.

The four organizations comprise GFF’s class of 2027 trustees, each serving a three-year term, beginning in 2025.

Additionally, board leadership was voted in during the Board of Trustees meeting. The newly appointed officers are:

Grain Foods Manufacturer Co-Chair: Penny Patterson-Smith, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer, Flowers Bakeries, LLC

Miller Co-Chair: Bruce King, VP of Sales, Grain Craft

Treasurer: Angie Quinn, CEO, Momentum Group

“I look forward to working with our new co-chairs, together with the whole Board, to execute our 2023-2026 strategic plan,” Ball said. “I am also grateful for the wise, strategic leadership from our past co-chairs, Angie Goldberg from Ardent Mills, and Lorraine Hale from Bimbo Bakeries USA.”

Ball also delivered the Executive Director’s report to all investors, highlighting the formation of the Grain Foods Research Institute (GFRI), a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with GFF. GFRI will administer the nutrition science research program on behalf of the category.

She emphasized the growing need for industry-funded research, given recent uncertainties surrounding federal funding for scientific research.

“There has been no better time to mobilize industry and private philanthropic resources toward grain foods nutrition science research,” she said. “GFRI is perfectly placed to facilitate such funding.”

GFF will have a presence at several upcoming industry events, where Ball will connect with GFF investors and industry leaders, including the American Society of Baking’s BakingTECH conference, Feb. 15-18 in Orlando; the North American Millers Association’s Spring Conference, March 8-11 in Scottsdale, AZ; and the American Bakers Association’s 2025 Convention, March 23-26 in Orlando.

For more information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit www.grainfoodsfoundation.org.

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